The Yomp Mountain Challenge

Kirkby Stephen, Sunday, June 3, 2012

23M (with 11.5M and 6.25M options)

Yusuf Kuruner, Shaun Roberts, Jan Young

aka Mallerstang Horseshoe & Nine Standards Yomp

Yusuf Kuruner on the Full Yomp …

Throughout the hard cross country winter season there were great memories for me: coming second last in the British Universities XC Championship in Cardiff, Wales (a funny memory that I will even tell my grandchildren). From a positive aspect, I have finished a University Championship in Great Britain, racing in a very snowy course with uni-athletes, who have probably been training since they were born, and that encouraged me to do more races in England. Suddenly, I found myself in Harrier League racing with “old guys”. Apparently, three races in the Harrier League [Wrekenton, Alnwick, Prudhoe] were all damn hard and bloody fast. [ Again finished all of them in last 10 🙂 ] I have also tried some slow but long races which I felt more comfortable with than cross country races: Dentdale 14M, Coniston 14M, Hull Marathon, Edinburgh Half. … Races were a very good reason for me to travel to new beautiful places in my exchange year, and I could also have a great time with club friends.

The Nine Standards - the last peak on the Full Yomp. You'll have to imagine the wind ... At the end of April, ultra-runner Flip Owen introduced me to a new world: slow races i.e. fell races in which you can even walk and surprisingly hills became suddenly my new love: Hamsterley Forest 17K, Carlton Bank Fell Race, Roseberry Topping, Ossy Oiks … They are all a bit(!) hilly but the important part is you have a good reason to go slow or even walk and you have the opportunity to see perfect scenes during your races. One night I asked Flip to recommend to me a trail long race and his answer was the YOMP. So I registered. Angela and Sue were doing this race this year again and I convinced my sporty friend Francesc from Catalonia who is also doing his exchange year here in Durham.

The day started very, very early: 5:30 wake up for a fast breakfast and by 6:15 Angela and bodybuilder Andrew were there. The weather was very rainy and cold but Andrew was cool with his vest all the way. It was my first race with a bag, that’s why our preparation in school took longer than usual. After a quick chat with the Half-YOMP walkers (Emma and her work friends) and Half-YOMP runners (Shaun and Jan), we left the starting point (school hall) around 9:10-ish. Apparently, my mate Francesc never tested running with a bag and his belly is thinner than bag standards. So, the first 10-15 min were problematic. After running with Jan for the first mile in the village, she turned left to half race and we started to run uphill. After this what I remember for the remaining hours are hills and wind. I have experienced hills in fell races but these were different.Yusuf and Francesc at the finish. There was no end of hills. Once we reached the top, there was again a new hill. Opph … The weather was fine in the village but once we started to climb it became windy, to be honest very, very windy! There were very good scenes throughout the race, unfortunately we were not brave enough to take off our gloves in that wind to take a picture with the Iphone.

The people who were waiting at checkpoints were really friendly and their conditions were surely harder than ours. We tried to have a chat at each checkpoint. One should be really crazy to wait hours on the top of these freezing mountains. After the second last checkpoint it was 5 miles all the way down. We were still powerful and wanted to finish this race as soon as possible. Did a great tempo in the last part and finished it in 5 hours 22 minutes.

The race was well marked so no need for a map or compass. We tried to eat and drink water every 20-30 min and guess this was the most clever thing I did that day: 2.5 liter water, 2 bananas, 5-6 jelly babies, 12 Mars bars. Shower facilities and free refreshments after the race were very important details for this race although I could hardly walk after it. Totally recommend this race to all running freaks but it definitely requires fell running experience.

… and Shaun Roberts on the Half:

I’ve fancied having a go at the Yomp for a while, but love the Swaledale, and haven’t fancied doing both within a week of each other. So when Jan said on the Wednesday that there was a half Yomp option, with entry on the day, I thought that sounded a good idea … and also a last decent runout before Swaledale as well.

To cut a long story short, it’s a lovely race, even in the grey and windy weather we had this time, and despite 1,700′ of climb, not too hard really, walking the steep bits. Great organisation at the start in Kirkby Stephen, and not too picky about kit – i.e. they’re fine with map extracts, and don’t actually inspect your stuff! Lovely fast start, south out of town, then a flat farm road – we only started to ascend after Thringill, at nearly the 3-mile mark. Then the climbing started, but it wasn’t too bad – bit of a walk up a slope, then a bit of a scuttle where it was flattish – that sort of thing up to the road checkpoint at about five miles – actually quite flat, if boggy, round here.

Low cloud at the Nine Standards.

One last climb up to the wierd and atmospheric Nine Standards (1h21m/7.25m) … and then, here we go … over four miles of downhill running all the way back. The surface was soft to start with, then hard bridleway, then quite a stretch of tarmac into town, so I was happy to have chosen the road shoes for this one. Finished 9th of 175 in the end, which is more than a bit flattering, as well over half the field were walking, including Emma’s uni team. Jan had a good run, coming in 27th, and looking in good nick for Swaledale … pity she hasn’t entered it this year, but there you go! 😉 [Stop Press: she now has a number! Good decision … Ed.] Left Kirkby Stephen to go up to Tan Hill for a good lunch, wondering how everyone got on in the full Yomp, and promising myself a go at that next year.

Jan Young adds:

Great day out on the hills and alternative to Swaledale. Organised by Upper Eden Rotary Club as charity fundraiser, this event is for all the family either as walkers or runners. Choice of 23ml/1190′, 11.5ml/1700′, 6.25ml/550′, choice of start time 8-10am, free refreshments, hot showers at end. Brilliant organisation, friendly participants and well organised volunteers. Some runners had made the journey from Essex to compete, running the long event to make it worthwhile. Electronic timing chips provided instant print out at finish of checkpoint times and immediate certificate, huge screen in hall with names, times, positions.

At last check, Nine Standards Rigg, my time was 1.45; thought I’d fly downhill to finish to clock 2 hrs. Ha, ha…. 37 mins later, I staggered through hall door at finish. Now that’s a long descent! Possible to enter on day, if space available, courses marked. [Very, very well-marked. Ed.] Youngsters were out on shorter courses, some trying to beat previous times and so proud to show their certificates. Sharp end runners can do their thing, while families and friends share a slower day together.

Highly recommended to all who love the hills.

Results

Full Yomp
Pos Name Club Cat Pos Time
1 Carl Bell Howgill Harriers M 2:48:34
20 Adele Roche Howgill Harriers F 4:22:11
67 Yusuf Kuruner M 5:22:41
117 Angela Proctor F 6:35:55
118 Sue Jennings F 6:36:05

185 walkers and runners finished, 11 retired.

Half Yomp
Pos Name Club Cat Pos Time
1 Paul Brittleton Howgill Harriers M 1:31:47
6 Jenn Mattinson Howgill Harriers F 1:48:23
9 Shaun Roberts M 1:54:31
27 Jan Young F 2:22:25
126 Emma Detchon Teesside University F 4:21:24

175 walkers and runners finished, 4 retired.

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